Support the work
Free for everyone.
Funded by readers.
Chain has no paywall, no ads, and no institutional funding with strings attached. Every thread, every entry, every map is free — because the people who most need this history shouldn't have to pay for it.
Make a contribution
Stripe integration coming soon. In the meantime, use one of the options below.
Chain is fiscally sponsored — donations are tax-deductible.
More ways to give
PayPal
Send a one-time donation through PayPal. No account needed for credit/debit card payments.
Donate via PayPal →Buy Me a Coffee / Ko-fi
Quick, casual support. Like buying a coffee for the team. No setup, no recurring commitment.
Buy us a coffee →Cash App / Venmo
Send directly via mobile payment apps. Fast, no-fee, and your full amount goes to Chain.
Where it goes
What your support builds
Every dollar goes directly into research, writing, and keeping Chain free and independent.
Keep the lights on
Covers infrastructure — hosting, DNS, and the tools that keep the site fast and accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Fund a thread chapter
Each chapter in a thread requires hours of research, source verification, and writing. Your $10/month directly supports that work.
Build the encyclopedia
Encyclopedia entries — people, policies, places — take deep research to get right. Your support funds the scholar time behind each one.
Commission a new thread
At the founding tier, your contribution goes toward commissioning a full new thread — from research to publication. Your name in the thread credits.
Why it matters
The paywall is a political choice.
Most serious historical scholarship is locked behind academic paywalls or institutional subscriptions that cost hundreds of dollars a year. The people who most need access to this history — students in underfunded schools, community organizers, families trying to understand their own story — are the ones least able to pay for it.
Chain exists because we believe that understanding the chain — from African civilizations to present-day inequality — should not require a credit card. Your donation makes that possible for everyone.
Support Chain →Our community
Thank you to our supporters
These readers make Chain possible. Join them.